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Over 54 years of hourly mean value of solar wind velocity from 27 Nov. 1963 to 31 Dec. 2017 are used to investigate characteristics of the rotation period of solar wind through auto-correlation analysis. Solar wind of high velocity is found to rotate faster than low-velocity wind, while its rotation rate increases with velocity increasing, but in contrast for solar wind of low velocity, its rotation rate decreases with velocity increasing. Our analysis shows that solar wind of a higher velocity statistically possesses a faster rotation rate for the entire solar wind. The yearly rotation rate of solar wind velocity does not follow the Schwable cycle, but it is significantly negatively correlated to yearly sunspot number when it leads by 3 years. Physical explanations are proposed to these findings.
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The release of density structures at the tip of the coronal helmet streamers, likely as a consequence of magnetic reconnection, contributes to the mass flux of the slow solar wind. In situ measurements in the vicinity of the heliospheric plasma sheet of the magnetic field, protons and suprathermal electrons reveal details of the processes at play during the formation of density structures near the Sun. In a previous article, we exploited remote-sensing observations to derive a 3-D picture of the dynamic evolution of a streamer. We found evidence of the recurrent and continual release of dense blobs from the tip of the streamers. In the present paper, we interpret in situ measurements of the slow solar wind during solar maximum. Through both case and statistical analysis, we show that in situ signatures (magnetic field magnitude, smoothness and rotation, proton density and suprathermal electrons, in the first place) are consistent with the helmet streamers producing, in alternation, high-density regions (mostly disconnected) separated by magnetic flux ropes (mostly connected to the Sun). This sequence of emission of dense blobs and flux ropes also seems repeated at smaller scales inside each of the high-density regions. These properties are further confirmed with in situ measurements much closer to the Sun using Helios observations. We conclude on a model for the formation of dense blobs and flux ropes that explains both the in situ measurements and the remote-sensing observations presented in our previous studies.
We calculate the interplanetary magnetic field path lengths traveled by electrons in solar electron events detected by the WIND 3DP instrument from $1994$ to $2016$. The velocity dispersion analysis method is applied for electrons at energies of $sim$ $27$ keV to $310$ keV. Previous velocity dispersion analyses employ the onset times, which are often affected by instrumental effects and the pre-existing background flux, leading to large uncertainties. We propose a new method here. Instead of using the peak or onset time, we apply the velocity dispersion analysis to the times that correspond to the rising phase of the fluxes that are a fraction, $eta$, of the peak flux. We perform statistical analysis on selected events whose calculated path lengths have uncertainties smaller than $0.1$ AU. The mean and standard deviation, ($mu$, $sigma$), of the calculated path lengths corresponding to $eta=$ $3/4$, $1/2$, and $1/3$ of the peak flux is ($1.17$ AU, $0.17$ AU), ($1.11$ AU, $0.14$ AU), and ($1.06$ AU, $0.15$ AU). The distribution of the calculated path lengths is also well fitted by a Gaussian distribution for the $eta=3/4$ and $1/3$ cases. These results suggest that in these electron events the interplanetary magnetic field topology is close to the nominal Parker spiral with little field line meandering. Our results have important implications for particles perpendicular diffusion.
How has the solar wind evolved to reach what it is today? In this review, I discuss the long-term evolution of the solar wind, including the evolution of observed properties that are intimately linked to the solar wind: rotation, magnetism and activity. Given that we cannot access data from the solar wind 4 billion years ago, this review relies on stellar data, in an effort to better place the Sun and the solar wind in a stellar context. I overview some clever detection methods of winds of solar-like stars, and derive from these an observed evolutionary sequence of solar wind mass-loss rates. I then link these observational properties (including, rotation, magnetism and activity) with stellar wind models. I conclude this review then by discussing implications of the evolution of the solar wind on the evolving Earth and other solar system planets. I argue that studying exoplanetary systems could open up new avenues for progress to be made in our understanding of the evolution of the solar wind.
We study the solar wind helium-to-hydrogen abundances ($A_mathrm{He}$) relationship to solar cycle onset. Using OMNI/Lo data, we show that $A_mathrm{He}$ increases prior to sunspot number (SSN) minima. We also identify a rapid depletion and recovery in $A_mathrm{He}$ that occurs directly prior to cycle onset. This $A_mathrm{He}$ Shutoff happens at approximately the same time across solar wind speeds ($v_mathrm{sw}$), implying that it is formed by a mechanism distinct from the one that drives $A_mathrm{He}$s solar cycle scale variation and $v_mathrm{sw}$-dependent phase offset with respect to SSN. The time between successive $A_mathrm{He}$ shutoffs is typically on the order of the corresponding solar cycle length. Using Brightpoint (BP) measurements to provide context, we infer that this shutoff is likely related to the overlap of adjacent solar cycles and the equatorial flux cancelation of the older, extended solar cycle during Solar Minima.
The Kelvin-Helmholtz instability (KHI) is a nonlinear shear-driven instability that develops at the interface between shear flows in plasmas. KHI has been inferred in various astrophysical plasmas and has been observed in situ at the magnetospheric boundaries of solar-system planets and through remote sensing at the boundaries of coronal mass ejections. While it was hypothesized to play an important role in the mixing of plasmas and in triggering solar wind fluctuations, its direct and unambiguous observation in the solar wind was still lacking. We report in-situ observations of ongoing KHI in the solar wind using Solar Orbiter during its cruise phase. The KHI is found in a shear layer in the slow solar wind in the close vicinity of the Heliospheric Current Sheet, with properties satisfying linear theory for its development. An analysis is performed to derive the local configuration of the KHI. A 2-D MHD simulation is also set up with empirical values to test the stability of the shear layer. In addition, magnetic spectra of the KHI event are analyzed. We find that the observed conditions satisfy the KHI onset criterion from the linear theory analysis, and its development is further confirmed by the simulation. The current sheet geometry analyses are found to be consistent with KHI development. Additionally, we report observations of an ion jet consistent with magnetic reconnection at a compressed current sheet within the KHI interval. The KHI is found to excite magnetic and velocity fluctuations with power-law scalings that approximately follow $k^{-5/3}$ and $k^{-2.8}$ in the inertial and dissipation ranges, respectively. These observations provide robust evidence of KHI development in the solar wind. This sheds new light on the process of shear-driven turbulence as mediated by the KHI with implications for the driving of solar wind fluctuations.
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